Jasper man receives transplant

The Jasper businessman, who was diagnosed with myelofibrosis in 2008, received the donation from a 20-year-old man from Germany. The surgery was done late Wednesday night at the Mayo Clinic, according to Joe’s wife, Kathleen.

A story about Helming’s search for a donor was in the The Herald on March 27.

Helming learned in mid-April that a match was found among those on the donor registry, Kathleen said. He went to Mayo in early May for tests and then preparations for the transplant.

The couple is now staying at the Gift of Life House, which is near Mayo Clinic. Joe will be checked every day for a month and then every two or three days for about two months after that to make sure the transplant was effective.

For information about joining the registry of potential donors, contact the Dubois County Leukemia Association at 683-2833 or dcleukemia@psci.net. Information also can be found through the National Marrow Donor Program at BeTheMatchFoundation.org.